Liverpool Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Max Meyer and Lukasz Teodorczyk

Schalke 04 have denied they have received an approach from Liverpool for attacking midfielder Max Meyer. The Reds were said to be keen on a deal worth £17 million for Meyer, but Schalke sporting executive Christian Heidel has played down the talk.

Speaking to German publication Kicker (h/t ESPN FC's Stephan Uersfeld), Heidel said no deal was in place to send Meyer to Anfield: "I'd argue that I'd know about anything in that direction."

Heidel also detailed the last time he spoke with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, per the reports: "I last had contact with Klopp after our Europa League match at [Borussia Monchengladbach]."

A recent report from David Maddock of the Daily Mirror described how Klopp had Meyer scouted during the Germany under-21s' past two games. Maddock also cited unnamed reports from Germany that said Schalke would be prepared to accept £17 million for a player who has yet to sign a new contract even though his deal is set to expire in 2018.

Meyer certainly seems the archetypal Klopp player. The 21-year-old offers the technique, ingenuity and quickness the Liverpool manager loves for his intense pressing and rapid passing combinations in midfield.

Klopp's squad is loaded with playmakers who embody these qualities. Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana, Georginio Wijnaldum and Roberto Firmino can all undermine defences with vision and flair.

Meyer's game is based on all these attributes, which is perhaps why he has been compared to Germany international and Arsenal star Mesut Ozil, as TalkSport's Billy Hawkins noted. In a scouting report, Hawkins mapped out what Meyer does best: "Confident with both feet and with a low centre of gravity, Meyer is a fluid dribbler of the ball who can move into the tightest spaces without ceding possession, before playing a pinpoint pass to create a chance for a team-mate."

That description is apt because it speaks of a player who is as adept at scoring goals as he is at creating chances. The ability to do both on a regular basis is what Coutinho brings to Liverpool.

Such versatility is why Barcelona are reportedly keen on the Reds' No. 10, per Spanish publication Sport (h/t Metro's Chris Davie).

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If Coutinho were to move to the Camp Nou, Meyer would make sense as a replacement. However, it appears Klopp and Liverpool have more work to do to convince Schalke to sell.

Liverpool Interested in Polish Attacker

Meyer isn't the only attacking talent on Liverpool's radar, according to the latest reports. Belgian broadcaster RTBF (h/t TalkSport) reported the Reds are also keen on Anderlecht striker Lukasz Teodorczyk.

The Poland international initially joined Anderlecht on loan last summer before recently signing a permanent deal that's set to keep him at the club until 2020.

Yet RTBF indicated the Jupiler Pro League side will try to cash in on the reportedly in-demand striker after the strides he has made this season: "[The interest] has led Anderlecht to consider selling Teodorczyk this summer in the hope they could bank nearly four times what they shelled out for him."

This would be the kind of under-the-radar signing Klopp needs to make this summer. He must upgrade Liverpool's options at centre-forward, as doubts persist about Divock Origi's consistency. Meanwhile, the ongoing injury woes of Daniel Sturridge and Danny Ings compound the Reds' problems at the position.

Yet Klopp's biggest issue may be the inability to compete financially with other big clubs in the Premier League. Liverpool can't match the spending power of Chelsea, Manchester City or bitter rivals Manchester United.

It means the German has to selectively unearth hidden gems who can quickly become key players in England's top flight. Teodorczyk may not quite fit the description just yet, but he's worth the risk given Liverpool's issues up front.